When trying to start running after a 4 years break (working on a laptop from home) I had problems in my calfs for around 2 years. I couldn't run more than 5K without getting pain. I had to do a lot of injury-breaks which always were around 4 weeks or more. Next run...the same again, I often needed to stop my run and it was super-frustrating. The problem disappeared as soon as I started to use a massage gun 3-4 times a week and did a bit of stretching. After 3 months I could even do intervals again and still use the massage gun as a recovery routine for my calfs. I'm so happy that this worked for me and that I can just go out and take a run without hating any other runner. 😂😂😂
Speaking of calf cramps, I have had them recently while sleeping and it's very traumatic. It does come from recent over usage and the phenomena is related to cramping whilst swimming. I believe that while you run and bike, the angle of your foot and ankle naturally prevents cramping by stretching the calf. When you swim or sleep however, there is no tension that inhibits a cramp. The combination of cold, tightness and overuse will cause the agitated calf muscles to fire up when they shouldn't. And thus the cramp will make itself apparent during activities where the foot position is too relaxed to counter the impulse, such as when swimming or sleeping. So even though the buildup for cramps is caused during the run and bike, it will manifest itself in other situations. A major part of why your calf or foot is tight and overused, is because you subconsciously allocate your force production too much in those areas compared to the rest of your body. The remedy is to consciously relax your calf or foot during your activity. Your feet and calves transmit the force to your movement while running and biking, so they never fully relax. However, sometimes the rest of your body isn't firing up enough to alleviate the strain put on them. So again, it is about consciously relaxing the lower extremities, and let your glutes and core and everything else take the role in generating power. Now to fix your foot/ankle/calf tightness, it's about creating bloodflow and mobility with hundreds of foot rotations and extensions/retractions daily, stretching/yoga, pressuring any pressure sensitive spots on or between your calf muscles until they relax and go away - neuromuscularly teaching your calves to be relaxed when they should be, and removing residual tension buildup. It is also all this kind of lower extremity tightness and overcompensation that further promote shinsplints during impacts due to proper lack of force control and absorption.
Good cool down stretch after has helped me with a lot of calf soreness and cramps aswell as a short 15-20 min yoga workout after,has really helped me recover all over as i suffer with back issues
No other solution than to start slow and build up. Train to time. Gradually build. Dynamic stretches not static, you may strain your calf as you are not warm.
I really suffered from horrible calf cramps during running. It was had to figure out just why, but for me it seems to be a combination of: excessive pace up front, "launching" more than balanced stride, and electrolyte imbalance. Older men (I'm 58) can also be carrying much larger chest or upper body weight. I had to learn to go "lower and slower."
When I started triathlon my calves were unhappy for a few years 😂, I blame the bike to run transition. I could have used this video back then 😂. I had to learn this info myself.
It's the high drop in shoes, that promotes WEAK calf muscles, less range of motion and altered biomechanics! Since the early 80's shoebrands (looking at you, NIKE) have released "Revolutionary" running shoes. The ammount of injuries have not gone down! Profits have stayed healthy and gone up...
Have you struggled with sore calves?🦵 What have you tried to fix it?
When trying to start running after a 4 years break (working on a laptop from home) I had problems in my calfs for around 2 years. I couldn't run more than 5K without getting pain. I had to do a lot of injury-breaks which always were around 4 weeks or more. Next run...the same again, I often needed to stop my run and it was super-frustrating.
The problem disappeared as soon as I started to use a massage gun 3-4 times a week and did a bit of stretching. After 3 months I could even do intervals again and still use the massage gun as a recovery routine for my calfs. I'm so happy that this worked for me and that I can just go out and take a run without hating any other runner. 😂😂😂
When do you time your message gun use in relation to your run schedule and day schedule?
Speaking of calf cramps, I have had them recently while sleeping and it's very traumatic. It does come from recent over usage and the phenomena is related to cramping whilst swimming. I believe that while you run and bike, the angle of your foot and ankle naturally prevents cramping by stretching the calf. When you swim or sleep however, there is no tension that inhibits a cramp. The combination of cold, tightness and overuse will cause the agitated calf muscles to fire up when they shouldn't. And thus the cramp will make itself apparent during activities where the foot position is too relaxed to counter the impulse, such as when swimming or sleeping.
So even though the buildup for cramps is caused during the run and bike, it will manifest itself in other situations.
A major part of why your calf or foot is tight and overused, is because you subconsciously allocate your force production too much in those areas compared to the rest of your body. The remedy is to consciously relax your calf or foot during your activity.
Your feet and calves transmit the force to your movement while running and biking, so they never fully relax. However, sometimes the rest of your body isn't firing up enough to alleviate the strain put on them.
So again, it is about consciously relaxing the lower extremities, and let your glutes and core and everything else take the role in generating power.
Now to fix your foot/ankle/calf tightness, it's about creating bloodflow and mobility with hundreds of foot rotations and extensions/retractions daily, stretching/yoga, pressuring any pressure sensitive spots on or between your calf muscles until they relax and go away - neuromuscularly teaching your calves to be relaxed when they should be, and removing residual tension buildup.
It is also all this kind of lower extremity tightness and overcompensation that further promote shinsplints during impacts due to proper lack of force control and absorption.
I never had problems with my calves until I wore flip flops for a week on holiday 🤦🏼♀️
Another great video! Thank you
No cramps luckily, but my calves hurt a lot. Thanks for the tips in this video, much appreciated
Good cool down stretch after has helped me with a lot of calf soreness and cramps aswell as a short 15-20 min yoga workout after,has really helped me recover all over as i suffer with back issues
I'm a cyclist, but stretching after and sometimes during the ride really helped with soreness all over the body.
No other solution than to start slow and build up. Train to time. Gradually build. Dynamic stretches not static, you may strain your calf as you are not warm.
I really suffered from horrible calf cramps during running. It was had to figure out just why, but for me it seems to be a combination of: excessive pace up front, "launching" more than balanced stride, and electrolyte imbalance. Older men (I'm 58) can also be carrying much larger chest or upper body weight. I had to learn to go "lower and slower."
Cause := Old age . Cure = Run on the grass beside the path.
Very dangerous. Hard to notice holes and uneven terrain that can roll an ankle
Everytime he said calf drops I hear cough drops. Sorry, American viewer here.
When I started triathlon my calves were unhappy for a few years 😂, I blame the bike to run transition. I could have used this video back then 😂. I had to learn this info myself.
All of the above
What about shin pain?
It's the high drop in shoes, that promotes WEAK calf muscles, less range of motion and altered biomechanics!
Since the early 80's shoebrands (looking at you, NIKE) have released "Revolutionary" running shoes.
The ammount of injuries have not gone down!
Profits have stayed healthy and gone up...
Alphafly gives me calf strain
mines just gone im in agony
I can’t wear low drop shoes. Yet, barefoot is fine 🤷
Walk backwards.
This helped me a lot
Also backwards up an incline